Zoom Lens System Compact High Magnification Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing zoom lens systems fail to achieve a high variable magnification ratio of 9 or greater while maintaining a reduced overall length and being adaptable for wide-angle image taking with a view angle of 70° or greater.
Innovation Solution
A zoom lens system comprising multiple lens units, including a first lens unit with positive optical power, a second lens unit with negative optical power, a third lens unit with positive optical power, and a fourth lens unit, where these units move in the optical axis direction during zooming, with specific conditions such as 3.0 < Da11/(fW×tan ωW) < 8.0, 9.0 < fT/fW < 13.0, and 35 < ωW, to achieve a high resolution and compact design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a zoom lens system achieves a high variable magnification ratio of 9 or greater, then the magnification zoom function is improved, but the overall length of the lens system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lens system is divided into five distinct lens units (first through fifth lens units) with different optical powers and characteristics. Each unit is responsible for specific optical functions, allowing the system to achieve high magnification ratio while keeping individual units compact and managing the overall length through optimized segmentation of optical functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs movable lens units that can change their positions and intervals dynamically during zooming operations. The intervals between lens units are designed to vary such that the first interval increases while the second interval decreases during magnification change, enabling the system to adapt its structure for different focal lengths while maintaining compact overall dimensions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the lens system is designed for wide-angle image taking with a view angle of 70° or greater, then the adaptability for wide-angle imaging is improved, but the optical performance and resolution may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Different lens units are designed with specific optical characteristics tailored to their functions. The first lens unit has positive optical power for wide-angle coverage, while subsequent units have negative or positive powers optimized for their specific roles in the zoom range. This local optimization of optical properties allows the system to maintain high resolution across the entire zoom range while supporting wide-angle imaging.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes specific parameter relationships between lens units, including the Abbe numbers and partial dispersion ratios of individual lenses. By carefully selecting and optimizing these optical parameters, the system achieves both wide-angle capability (70° or greater view angle) and high optical performance without compromise.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple lens units with varying intervals are used to achieve high magnification ratio, then the variable magnification function is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines five lens units into a single integrated optical system where the units work together to achieve the desired magnification ratio. By merging these units with specific interval relationships, the system achieves high variable magnification function while the unified structure manages complexity through coordinated optical design rather than separate independent components.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables a zoom lens system with a high resolution, variable magnification ratio, and reduced overall length, suitable for wide-angle image taking with a view angle of approximately 76°, while maintaining high optical performance and compactness.
Implementation Method 1
a zoom lens system comprising a plurality of lens units each consisting of at least one lens element
Data Source
AI summary
An object is to provide: a zoom lens system that has a reduced overall length, a high resolution, and a variable magnification ratio as high as 9 or greater and that is satisfactorily adaptable for wide-angle image taking where the view angle at a wide-angle limit is 70° or greater; an imaging device employing this zoom lens system; and a thin and compact camera. The zoom lens system has a plurality of lens units each consisting of at least one lens element, and, in order from the object side to the image side, comprises a first lens unit having positive optical power, a second lens unit having negative optical power, a third lens unit having positive optical power, a fourth lens unit and a fifth lens unit. In zooming from a wide-angle limit to a telephoto limit at the time of image taking, at least the first lens unit and the second lens unit move in an optical axis direction, while the fourth lens unit and the fifth lens unit each consists of one lens element. An imaging device and a camera employ this zoom lens system.